NEWARK, NJ—A Colorado man was sentenced today to 51 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to transport women across state lines for prostitution in New Jersey and other states, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

James Roy Smith, 36, a/k/a “Mister Smith,” of Lakewood, Colorado, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler to a superseding information charging him with conspiracy to transport women across state lines to work as prostitutes and transportation of a victim across state lines with the intent that the victim work as a prostitute. Judge Chesler imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From February 2009 through June 27, 2010, Smith conspired to operate a prostitution business in numerous locations around the United States, including New Jersey, New Mexico, Nebraska and Pennsylvania. The women would be transported between states by air as well as in a Cadillac Escalade registered to Smith’s uncle. In order to attract and locate local customers, the conspirators would place advertisements for escort services on Craigslist as well as Backpage.com.

Smith admitted that in late June 2010, he conspired to transport six women from New Jersey to Philadelphia to work as prostitutes. During that time, while checked in at the Econolodge in Elizabeth, New Jersey, he also caused a victim to be transported between these two states with the intent that the victim work as a prostitute.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Chesler sentenced Smith to 15 years of supervised release, fined him $5,000 and ordered him to forfeit the Cadillac.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, with investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked FBI offices in Omaha, Nebraska and Salt Lake City, Utah; the Union County, New Jersey, Prosecutor’s Office; the Elizabeth, New Jersey, Police Department; and the Clay County, Nebraska, Sheriff’s Office for their roles in the investigation.

The government is represented by Senior Litigation Counsel Leslie F. Schwartz of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.